Emergency glass removal tool

Abstract

A emergency glass removal tool for breaking out a windshield and other windows of a vehicle for extricating a person from the vehicle. The emergency glass removal tool includes an elongate frame member that has opposite first and second ends and a longitudinal axis extending between the ends. A handle portion is coupled to the second end of the frame member and has a grasping portion, a scraping portion extending between the grasping portion and the second end of the frame member, and an ax portion extending between the grasping portion and the second end of the frame member.

We claim: 
     
       1. A tool for breaking glass, comprising: an elongate frame member having opposite first and second ends and a longitudinal axis extending between said ends;   a handle portion being coupled to said second end of said frame member; and   said handle portion having a grasping portion, a scraping portion extending between said grasping portion and said second end of said frame member, and an ax portion extending between said grasping portion and said second end of said frame member.   
     
     
       2. The tool of claim 1, wherein said frame member has a channel extending into a lower surface thereof, a saw blade being pivotally coupled to said first end of said frame member and being disposable in said channel of said frame member. 
     
     
       3. The tool of claim 2, wherein said saw blade is positionable between a deployed position and a retracted position, said saw blade being positioned at an angle of between about 150 and 210 degrees from said longitudinal axis of said frame member when in said deployed position, said saw blade being disposed in said channel of said frame member when in said retracted position. 
     
     
       4. The tool of claim 3, wherein said saw blade has opposed locking notches extending therein, said first end of said frame member having a release lever pivotally coupled thereto, said release lever having a flanged end for engaging said locking notches of said saw blade for locking said saw blade in said deployed position and said retracted position. 
     
     
       5. The tool of claim 1, wherein said frame member has a bend defining a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being positioned towards said first end of said frame member, wherein said first portion is oriented at an obtuse angle to said second portion of said frame member. 
     
     
       6. The tool of claim 5, wherein said first portion is oriented at an angle of about 165 degrees to said second portion of said frame member. 
     
     
       7. The tool of claim 1, wherein said handle portion has a generally D-shaped profile. 
     
     
       8. The tool of claim 1, wherein said grasp ing portion has upper and lower ends and a longitudinal axis extending between said upper and lower ends, said grasping portion having a channel extending into an outer face thereof, an elongate punch having proximal and distal ends being pivotally coupled to said upper end of said grasping portion and being disposable in said channel of said grasp ing portion. 
     
     
       9. The tool of claim 8, wherein said punch is positionable between a deployed position and a retracted position, said punch being positioned generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said grasping portion when in said deployed position, said punch being disposed in said channel of said grasping portion when in said retracted position. 
     
     
       10. The tool of claim 9, wherein said grasping portion has a clip disposed in said channel thereof, said clip being generally U-shaped and having a pair of opposed curved wings adapted for frictionally holding said punch therebetween. 
     
     
       11. The tool of claim 9, wherein said grasping portion has an aperture extending through an inner face thereof into said channel of said grasping portion, a release button being slidably disposed in said aperture of said grasping portion, said release button being for pushing said punch towards a deployed position. 
     
     
       12. The tool of claim 1, wherein said ax portion of said handle portion has an outer tapered edge extending therealong between said grasping portion and said second end of said frame member. 
     
     
       13. The tool of claim 12, wherein said ax portion of said handle portion is generally J-shaped. 
     
     
       14. The tool of claim 1, wherein said handle portion has a hammer head being positioned at an intersection of said grasping portion and said scraping portion of said handle portion. 
     
     
       15. A tool for breaking glass, comprising: an elongate frame member having opposite first and second ends and a longitudinal axis extending between said ends;   said frame member having a channel extending into a lower surface thereof from said first end towards said second end of said frame member;   a saw blade being adapted for sawing through glass, said saw blade having proximal and distal ends and a serrated edge extending between said proximal and distal ends, said proximal end of said saw blade being pivotally coupled to said first end of said frame member in said channel of said frame member;   said saw blade being positionable between a deployed position and a retracted position, said saw blade being positioned at an angle of about 180 degrees from said longitudinal axis of said frame member when in said deployed position, said saw blade being disposed in said channel of said frame member when in said retracted position;   said saw blade having a catch channel being positioned towards said distal end thereof for helping move said saw blade from a retracted position towards a deployed position;   said proximal end of said saw blade having opposed locking notches extending therein;   said first end of said frame member having a release lever pivotally coupled thereto for locking said saw blade in said deployed position and said retracted position, said release lever having a flanged end engaging said proximal end of said saw blade, said flanged end being inserted in one of said locking notches when said saw blade is in said deployed position, said flanged end being inserted in another of said locking notches when said saw blade is in said retracted position;   said flanged end of said release lever being biased towards said proximal end of said saw blade;   said release lever having a button end extending into an aperture in an upper surface of said frame member, wherein actuation of said button end of said release lever pivots said release lever such that said flanged end moves away from said saw blade;   said frame member having a bend defining a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being positioned towards said first end of said frame member;   wherein said first portion is oriented at an obtuse angle to said second portion of said frame member;   said frame member having a series of shallow corrugations extending therealong between said first end of said frame member and said bend of said frame member for preventing slipping of fingers of a hand therealong;   a handle portion being coupled to said second end of said frame member, said handle portion having a generally D-shaped profile;   said handle portion having a grasping portion, a scraping portion extending between said grasping portion and said second end of said frame member, and an ax portion extending between said grasping portion and said second end of said frame member;   said grasping portion having upper and lower ends and a longitudinal axis extending between said upper and lower ends;   said grasping portion having a channel extending into an outer face thereof;   an elongate punch having proximal and distal ends, said proximal end of said punch being pivotally coupled to said upper end of said grasping portion in said channel of said grasping portion;   said punch being positionable between a deployed position and a retracted position, said punch being positioned substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said grasping portion when in said deployed position, said punch being disposed in said channel of said grasping portion when in said retracted position;   said distal end of said punch having a pointed tip adapted for piercing glass;   said grasping portion having a clip disposed in said channel thereof, said clip being generally U-shaped and having a pair of opposed curved wings adapted for frictionally holding said punch therebetween;   said grasping portion having an aperture extending through an inner face thereof into said channel of said grasping portion;   a release button being slidably disposed in said aperture of said grasping portion, said release button being for pushing said punch out of said clip towards a deployed position;   said inner face of said grasping portion having a series of shallow corrugations extending therealong between said scraping portion and said ax portion for preventing slipping of fingers of a hand therealong;   said ax portion of said handle portion being generally J-shaped and having an outer tapered edge extending therealong between said grasping portion and said second end of said frame member, said tapered edge being adapted for striking glass; and   said handle portion having a hammer head being positioned at an intersection of said grasping portion and said scraping portion of said handle portion, a face of said hammer head being oriented generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the grasping portion, said hammer head being adapted for striking glass.